The chip will fit into the socket 370 form factor, run on up to a 133 MHz memory and system bus, and feature 256 KB of on-chip L2 cache. In addition, it features 64 KB of L1 cache and is produced on a 6-layer .18 micron process. The chip also supports 3DNow! instructions, much like earlier Cyrix processors.

The Cyrix III will initially be available in PR500 (400 MHz) and PR533 (433 MHz) speeds, priced at US$84 and $99 respectively. “PR” stands for Performance Rating and Via claims that the Cyrix III performs as fast as competing chips running at the PR rating.

Via did not state when the Via Cyrix III will be available for sale, but volume shipment is expected in April 2000.

ROB'S OPINION
This chip was a long time coming, and I find it unfortunate that Via still has to use the dreaded “PR” rating system. Many people will confuse this with a true MHz speed, and in some ways that's what Via and Cyrix always wanted.

The Via Cyrix III is a low-end processor in terms of clock speed, but it does sport some decent features, such as 133 MHz bus support, socket 370 compatibility, and a large on-chip L2 cache.

AMD obviously announced its Socket 7 K6-2 550MHz processor on Tuesday to pre-empt Via's release. Unfortunately, AMD claimed its processor was priced at $189, putting it way out of the price class of the Via chips. On Pricewatch, the K6-2 550 is actually listed at around $120. It is strange that AMD would shoot itself in the foot like that. Perhaps it lowered the price of the chip almost immediately in anticipation of the Via Cyrix III.